ISP asking witnesses to come forward after crash involving State Trooper

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WANE) - Indiana State Police investigators are asking for witnesses to come forward following Thursday night's crash in South Bend, which injured an Indiana State Trooper and two other people.

ISP Trooper William B. Ennis, 32, St. Joseph County, was traveling west on Ireland Road near Linden Road around 8p.m. when he hit a vehicle operated by Robert L. Perez, 19, Mishawaka, according to a release by the Indiana State Police.

Ennis was headed to a separate vehicle accident to provide assistance to the St. Joseph County Sheriff's Department.

The ISP said a preliminary investigation revealed the trooper was traveling west on Ireland Road with his emergency lights and sirens on when Perez crossed from Linden Road in front of the trooper's car.

The resulting collision pinned Perez in his vehicle.

He and his passenger, Danielle Cutler, 20, South Bend, were transported to the hospital. Perez was listed in critical condition and Cutler was listed in serious condition, according to the report. The report did not disclose their injuries.

Ennis was taken to a hospital with injuries to his hip and legs. He was listed in stable condition.

Ennis has been with the ISP for five years.

Police said a middle-aged white man driving a yellow, older model pickup truck with plastic on the rear window stopped shortly after the crash but then took off again.

Police are asking this man, or any person who may have witnessed the crash, to contact the ISP Post in Bremen at either (574) 546-4900 or toll free within Indiana at (800) 552-2959.

The crash remains under investigation.